We often hear conservative commentators lamenting the fact that solar and wind energy are subsidized by electricity consumers. That’s true. In fact the Renewable Energy Target (RET) costs consumers around $1.8B per year. But as always, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Fossil fuels are subsidized by – wait for it – around $11B a year, six times as much. The diesel fuel rebate (which is a gift to the mining industry) accounts for more than half of that. But, most importantly, since the repeal of the carbon tax, the fossil fuel industry is now allowed to dangerously pollute the planet without paying anything for the privilege. That is quite a subsidy.
At odds with the G20
It’s now almost six years since the G20 group of governments first decided to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, recognising that “fossil fuel subsidies encourage wasteful consumption, distort markets, impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to deal with climate change”.
But since Australia made that commitment, successive governments have done nothing to cut these subsidies. In fact, our current PM has made it pretty clear that he loves coal and detests renewables.
Flannery’s latest book
10 years ago Tim Flannery wrote ‘The Weather Makers’ which sold over a million copies in the first two years. One of his readers was Sir Richard Branson who was so affected by it that he pledged $3B dollars for development of renewable energy. Now Flannery has written ‘Atmosphere of Hope – Searching for Solutions to the Climate Crisis’. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph noted that “this man is a national treasure and we should heed every word”. And of course he’ll be in Castlemaine on Saturday 26th September. Don’t leave it too late to book! You can book online at www.mash.org.au or buy tickets from the Castlemaine Central Wine Store on Lyttleton Street.
Next MASH Info Meetings in Castlemaine
They’re on Thursday 20th August and Wednesday 26th August at 5pm at the Senior Citizens Centre near the Town Hall. We will be there to answer all your questions.